UTC to visit UK, Indiana, Butler

UTC to visit UK, Indiana, Butler

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball schedule goes to extremes.

The Mocs will play four daunting road tests and three home games against non-Division I teams, in addition to a typical Southern Conference schedule with two games in December and the other 16 after New Year's Day.

UTC opens its regular season at Indiana on Nov. 13 and plays at national runner-up Butler on Nov. 15. The other high-profile road games are at Kentucky on Dec. 17 and at Tennessee on Jan. 2.

In between, UTC will have SoCon road games at Georgia Southern on Dec. 1 and at the College of Charleston on Dec. 3.

The annual Dr Pepper Classic, to be played Dec. 29-30, begins with Hampton versus Utah Valley and UTC versus Longwood. The consolation and championship games are the next night.

UTC will play three non-Division I games -- through a waiver granted by SoCon officials, who prefer only two per year -- with the first being Warren Wilson on Nov. 21. The other two are Spalding University on Dec. 13 and a Monday afternoon game against Hiwassee on Dec. 21.

The Mocs' SoCon schedule begins in earnest with three straight home dates beginning Jan. 5 against Western Carolina. UTC concludes its regular season Feb. 25 at home against Samford before heading to Asheville, N.C., for the SoCon tournament.

"Starting at IU and Butler is a strong test, and it's nice to work in four home games after that," Shulman told a UTC official before boarding a plane. "Our goals remain the same, and it starts with winning the division."